NEED FOR MORE WHEAT

Southland Times, Issue 24685, 5 March 1942, Page 6

NEED FOR MORE WHEAT

New Zealand must Be Self-Supporting An outline of the work done by the farmers of New Zealand last year in the growing of crops was given by Mr R. B. Tennent, Director of Primary Production, at a meeting of the Southland Council of Primary Production yesterday. Mr Tennent appealed for an increased acreage of wheat next season to make New Zealand self-supporting in wheat. “It is absolutely imperative that New Zealand should be self-supporting in wheat,” he said. Last year 258,000 acres of wheat were grown in the Dominion and the required acreage was 300,000. He asked farmers where possible to increase the wheat acreage to achieve the required 300,000 acres and thereby make the country self-sup-porting. So far as he knew there would be no increase in the price for wheat next season. “FULL SPEED AHEAD” POLICY • When war was declared, said Mr Tennent, the farmers throughout New Zealand adopted a policy of “full speed ahead.” Problems had arisen, the greatest of which was the shipping position. He referred to the change-over the farmers had made from butterfat to cheese production. He praised the efforts made by farmers in producing linen flax, and said that when war was declared the British Government had offered New Zealand 500 tons of seed. In nine months an industry had been set up surpassing that of Northern Ireland and in 18 months the output had been doubled. New Zealand was now self-supporting in the production of turnip seed, said Mr Tennent. The New Zealand-grown seed was better than the imported seed. He appealed for an increase in oat production in Southland and said that the province was known throughout the Dominion for its oats. There would be a definite shortage of grass and clover seed with the exception of Chewings fescue. There would be a demand for browntop in the future. This crop was usel in sowing down aerodromes and he advised farmers to strip all the browntop they could. “I can assure farmers that there will be sufficient supplies of fertilizer available this year for cropping,” said Mr Tennent. Farmers would be able to obtain the same ration as last year. Sufficient for an increase in wheat production would be granted. RELEASE OF MEN FROM ARMY Arrangements had been made with the Army Department for the release of men from training camps to relieve the labour shortage. He assured farmers that petrol would be made available for growing the essential crops, which were potatoes, linen flax, wheat, and turnips and swedes for seed. Mr Tennent also gave an outline of the cropping programme for the 1942-43 season. Mr W. J. A. McGregor said he appreciated Mr Tennent’s address. He did not like taking men from the Army when there were many men still working a 40-hour week. Mr T. Hamilton suggested that a small committee be set up to canvass the districts for an increased acreage of wheat.

Members agreed to do all they could to increase the wheat acreage in their districts and decided to appoint a small committee to canvass for an increased acreage.